If you're gaming, you'll definitely want to get the U2713HM over the U2711, I did some research on both of them because I was considering the same monitors

On a different note, I got a question about how to overclock your monitor, so I wrote up a short guide (this is for Nvidia cards, though I'm sure there will be something similar in the AMD control panel);

If you open up the Nvidia Control Panel, and go to the Change resolution tab under Display, there will be a button labeled 'Customise' underneath your available resolutions. If you click that one, a new window will open, which has a button labeled 'Create custom resolution'. When clicking this button, a warning may appear to to tell you to be careful, just click accept and proceed to the next screen. Now this screen is where the fun starts, here you can set your resolution and refresh rate manually, so just change the settings you would like to (2560 for horizontal, 1440 for vertical, and (for example) 75 for refresh rate). Now you can click the Test button, and if it works you should get a popup with a countdown timer asking you if you want to save this resolution. Just do this, and you're set. For future use, you can find your new resolution under a 'Custom' header in the Change resolution tab of Nvidia Control Panel.

Yup, I'm getting the U2713HM on 95%. I did SO MUCH research about everything, even korean monitors.
Ended up with "I can afford it and I will have more then enough for what I could possibly want", 3 year warranty, quality. Had a lot of discussion with myself if I should either get 24' 1080p possibly 120hz and wait for 1440p to go down with price or higher resolution. Decided to buy this screen, use it for around 5 years and see if the prices on (?) 2500p+ monitors are going to be reasonable.

No one here is talking about the Asus PB278Q what do you all hate Asus or something???

I got mine on Tuesday. I found one at a local NCIX and price matched it down to $687. I'd be afraid to order a monitor online, WAY to much hassle to deal with if there were an issue. It's true that it's a boxy, 'utilitarian' looking thing but I also have Zero complaints. There were no issues with dead pixels or backlight bleed (I'm sure there is some, but I can't see it), to my eye the colors are good, screen 'looks' uniform, no problems from the PWM, no issues for me . I've heard about the U2713 having some issues with image retention as well as a 'screen door' pattern appearing. The Samsung 850 would have been $165 more expensive where I am. Eventually though, I'm sure that I'll eventually give in to the temptation that is THIS damn thing.

I got mine on Tuesday. I found one at a local NCIX and price matched it down to $687. I'd be afraid to order a monitor online, WAY to much hassle to deal with if there were an issue. It's true that it's a boxy, 'utilitarian' looking thing but I also have Zero complaints. There were no issues with dead pixels or backlight bleed (I'm sure there is some, but I can't see it), to my eye the colors are good, screen 'looks' uniform, no problems from the PWM, no issues for me . I've heard about the U2713 having some issues with image retention as well as a 'screen door' pattern appearing. The Samsung 850 would have been $165 more expensive where I am. Eventually though, I'm sure that I'll eventually give in to the temptation that is THIS damn thing.
But yeah, the Asus is solid.

I still don't think I could touch a monitor at that price point with a half wobbly stand and no vesa abilities tbh. Should have function to take stand off and run connectivity/power separately as run offs so you can still keep that smexy bezel and such

Any detail you can go into on this? Are you able to see CCFL flicker on older LCD displays? I can see the flicker on mine on solid colors and it drives me insane when I do notice it. Which is why I am leery of PWM LED backlighting.

I've also got sparkly/dirty AG coating. How is the Asus in that regard?

I used to own the Dell U3011 and i thought it was the greatest thing at first compared to the regular 1080p lcd panels i had, but the shiny anti glare took some getting used to, but now that i have my glossy Crossover 27Q, i dont think i will ever buy a anti glare coated panel, my korean ips panel looks amazing and the best part is i only paid $420, id love to try the samsung, but the $800-$900 pricetag doesn't make it work it to try something fairly easy, i really hope these korean panels start bringing down the price of OEM screens like Samsung, Dell, HP, and Apple.
I really hope these 4k monitors hit the mainstream market in the next two years, so it will give me a reason to completely revamp my system!

After a bit of researching, I'm going to buy one of the Korean IPS as well ... just want to find the one that's best for overclocking as I'm super curious about running 1440p at 100hz+ if possible. The price is just too ridiculous not to try out ... and a local resell shouldn't be too difficult here in Houston ...

Any detail you can go into on this? Are you able to see CCFL flicker on older LCD displays? I can see the flicker on mine on solid colors and it drives me insane when I do notice it. Which is why I am leery of PWM LED backlighting.
I've also got sparkly/dirty AG coating. How is the Asus in that regard?

Zinfinion, as for the AG, there's just no issue with that. Bear in mind I don't think I've ever seen the Dells to compare, but with that being said I really have to believe that this panel doesn't have that same AG issue. The screen is just 'matte', no AG Sparkle and no glare (barring a strong direct light hitting the screen, of course).

In terms of what I'm able to see regarding flicker, well, I dunno. I've only had a rig for 2 years now. My first two monitors were 24" Samsung Syncmasters and they also looked fine with me. I don't know if I've been in front of a monitor that had a noticeable CCFL flicker. I can say though that I do have very solid eye sight and (for what it's worth) am an art school grad with an eye for detail that might be a little more tuned than some.

For the particular monitor that I happened to end up with, I really think that the great majority of main stream users would have a hard time finding any particular fault. The monitor is what it advertises itself to be, I can say that much for mine. There are other monitors I'd rather have (Apple Thunderbolt and the Samsung I linked above) but they both run $1,000.

Azefore, I'm under the impression that the stand can be removed and the monitor can be mounted. Am I confused?Edited by BillOhio - 11/8/12 at 6:18pm

I'm sure that I'll eventually give in to the temptation that is THIS damn thing.
But yeah, the Asus is solid.

RE: the 970D ... I had it and the 850D at the same time about two months ago when I was first shopping around. It's really nice...perhaps just a bit better in overall panel backlight uniformity but otherwise, looked identical to my 850D. I prefer the SEMI-glossy screen of the 850D ... The 970D, even in a mostly dark room, was annoying in regards to reflections (I particularly don't want to see my own face looking back at me). Not to mention the absolutely horrid movement capabilities of the stock mount of the 970 which, though quite sexy in appearance, is still honestly the worst mount I've ever used. No swivel, no rotate...and wobbly as all get out. And the 970 does not allow 3rd part mounts via VESA compatibility either, so your stuck with the stock mount. It's unbelievable to me that Samsung would release a monitor like that with such shortcomings. To it's credit, however, the 970 did offer a bit more granular control of various color calibration settings via it's OCD and what not but the 850 is no slouch in regards to such and by far had the upper hand in ergonomics.

So I took the 970 back and kept the 850. In the end, unless you have a house made of glass and brushed aluminum (within which, the 970 would look really really good)...or need the ultra fine calibration settings of the 970, then I think the 850D is a better all around "value" as it's panel is just as good and "poppy" as the glossy 970 and the stock mounting mechanism is 1000x better than the 970 ... as well as also having VESA compatible mounting options.

The main issue I had in getting used to both, however was how *searingly* bright the PLS panels seem at first and at the default settings. Especially the whites, which are pretty hard to believe some times (one reviewer referred to them as "chemical" white). But once I found all the various controls and set it up, and after a bit of daily use, I never even know the difference.

I also found the black levels of (IPS and PLS for that matter) to be a dramatically different interpretation of "black" than I was used to from TN panels. Personally, I still think the blacks are a bit more believable, a bit "blacker" if you will, on the decent TN panels. No matter the amount of calibration and OCD adjustments, on every IPS and PLS panel I've worked with, the notorious "GLOW" effect is still visible to me in all dark/black scenes. This is irregardless of my viewing distance and I consider it just a fact of the IPS/PLS technology. As I understand it, a few VERY high end IPS panels use a sort of polarization filter to negate this "glow" effect but certainly not in the gaming/recreational price points. I can totally understand why some big TN fans are always saying that IPS black levels actually look more like "grey levels" ... lol ... cause, it *really* is something that folks have to get used to (me anyway, and others I've talked with online).

But, as with the brightness issue, I have completely acclimated to the black level interpretation as well. I would, however, love to see a nice, affordable 1440p TN panel some day as well, though ...